The blog will offer purely objective and candid analyses for a better understanding of the events that keep happening and that provide dynamism and direction to the flow of the history and development of the human societies. Being a forum, the comments and opinions from readers whether for or against the views expressed in it, are gratefully welcome. Suggestions for improving the blog are welcome.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Mount Vernon: Unique Residence of United States’ First President in Washington D.C.

January 21, 2014

By Saeed Qureshi

Dallas, Texas

Mount Vernon is the name of the Home and estate of George
Washington, the first president of the United States. Its unique architecture
portrays Palladian style. Its original name was” little hunting creek
plantation” but was changed to Mount Vernon by George Washington’s half-brother
Lawrence Washington. This Magnificent panoramic architectural marvel and its enchanting
surroundings are located in the state of Virginia along river Potomac.

The rear
side of the mansion faces a captivating picturesque view with mighty Potomac
River flowing with its awesome majesty. George Washington himself defined
his estate as “No estate in United State is more pleasantly situated than
this”.

Mount Vernon is located at a distance of about 15 miles from
the downtown of Washington D.C. or more precisely in the rural vicinity of the
federal capital. Mount Vernon is situated at a higher plateau and therefore
serves as an ideal vantage point for overlooking the surrounding ancillary
structures such as store house, coach house, wash house, stables, fruit gardens
and nursery.

Further down one can walk through to see the old and the new tombs
of George Washington and his wife Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. Further
trekking down one comes across the forest trail, pioneer farm, 16 sided barn
and slave memorial.

President George Washington lived in this unique residence
for 45 years which means from the year 1754 when he acquired it, to 1799 when
he died here. His grave and that of his wife who died two years later are
located in a well maintained tomb a few hundred yards away in the garden area.

The history of Mount Vernon reveals that this estate passed
through several owners before it finally came into the exclusive ownership of
George Washington. After the death of his older half-brother Lawrence in 1752,
George Washington took up residence at the house built by his father Augustine
Washington in 1735.

The original house built by Augustine was much smaller in
size: with two floors: each floor having two rooms. The house underwent certain
changes in its dimensions in subsequent times carried out by the previous
owners. But the real and landmark remodeling was brought about in phases over a
long period time by George Washington himself after acquiring its ownership.

Mount Vernon is thus a kind of self-contained city where one would find an
array of huts, houses, warehouse, blacksmith shop, spinning house, kitchen
house, smoke house, wash house, salt house, slave quarters, and so on.

This estate, gardens, farms and plantation land measured 8000
acres in the 18th century. After its massive decay and deterioration, the
“Mount Vernon Ladies Association” purchased 200 acres in 1853 from the
Washington family. Ever since this nonprofit organization is maintaining and
operating this most prominent American heritage, wonderful estate and
captivating landscape to keep the legacy and heritage of Washington and his
family alive for American people. The Association is financed solely by
donations and revenue from admissions and tickets to run this huge undertaking.
Happily now the maintained area has increased to 500 acres.

George Washington was a cut and dried farmer. So after taking
up the residence, he zealously and indefatigably engaged himself into a studied
mission to renovate and expand this huge estate in diverse manners. This labor
of love lasted till his death in 1799 which means a time span of 47 years. In
the hindsight, one can imagine how serious President Washington was devoted and
involved in this gigantic undertaking. All these years he kept transforming and
reshaping this remarkable place according to his vision and cherished designs
and models.

George Washington was fond of finer choices. Being gifted
with immense innovative talent, profuse excellence and deep urge, he initiated
a process of renovations, recreations, expansion, rehabilitation in accordance
with his taste and temperament and indeed idealism. From a vast farmland and a
few old style huts and structures, George Washington converted it into an
abiding fun place and a charming touristic attraction and as one of the most
visited historical attractions for the coming generations.

In this vast, salubrious and green landscape, one can find
the eye catching 21 rooms main residence, a vast and spacious green circular
lawn in front, the upper gardens, the lower gardens, the fruit gardens and
nursery, the slave memorial, the pioneer farm, 16 sided barn and the forest
trail. All this multi-faceted spectacle looks like a fairyland as if the angels
and fairies were flying in the air invisibly. The fantastic distillery and
gristmill, purely the amazing invention of G.W. himself are located 2.7 miles far
from the main complex.

Mount Vernon’s main residential building is a unique
structure with three stories. It is in rectangular shape with front and back
verandas. In a relatively primitive environment some 150 years ago this house
must have been a Marvel although then it was not as spacious as it looks now.

Yet it is still a marvel of construction and would remain so for the posterity
for its beauty, elegance, scenic beauty and dazzling vastness and immaculately
preserved household things, furnishings, beds, furniture, rugs, chest, tables,
wall hangings and other artifacts. The bulk of these precious relics and
invaluable articles are kept in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education
Center located within the periphery of the estate.

Undoubtedly Mount Vernon is a spectacular national heritage,
a lofty monument and a living witness to the history of United States in
making. The visitors however, should not think that the existing constellation
of buildings including President George Washington’s personal residence somehow
bears close resemblance to the original structures. Most of these have either
been massively overhauled, renovated or rebuilt. But to a great degree, the
dimensions remain the same as these existed when George Washington died. About a
dozen structures are in original form.

This article would remain incomplete without a brief mention
of the gigantic river Potomac. As already mentioned the Mount Vernon mansion
and estate is built atop on the bank of River Potomac. The Potomac River
watershed covers the District of Columbia and parts of four states. In a way it
looks like a dividing line between three states namely Maryland, Virginia and
Washington D.C.

It is a life line for the inhabitants in all these states
through which it runs its course. Potomac River is the fourth largest river
along the Atlantic coast of the United States and the 21st largest in the
United States. It covers a distance of 405 miles from its origin Fairfax Stone
to the final destination the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic
coast of the United States. An average 486 million US gallons (1,840,000 m3) of
water per day is withdrawn daily from Potomac River in the Washington area for
water supply.

We should generously appreciate and applaud the “Mount
Vernon Ladies Association” providing abundant information facilities to
enlighten and bring into sharp and detailed focus, the life of the first
president of the United States and his family. One would be certainly
adequately knowledgeable and well-informed after watching and attending the
programs presented and the artifacts exhibited at Donald W. Reynolds Museum and
Education Center, Robert H. & Clarice Smith Auditorium and Ford Orientation
Center. There are such facilities as gift and book shops, Food court, the Mount
Vernon Inn and National Library provided in a covered and decently kept covered
Mall.

A detailed colorful brochure published by the management for
the information and guidance of the visitors is available at the tickets’
counter and other places. However, there is a glaring lacuna in this
folder. For instance, incredibly, there are no exclusive pictures of the front
and rear portions of the Mount Vernon residence. One wonders how this essential
feature could be missed by the organizers, who otherwise are managing this
national monument with enormous zeal, laudable professionalism and exemplary
dedication. Also is missing the contact phone number of “Mount Vernon Ladies
Association”.

Moreover while this whole estate is an amazing feast for the
eyes, it would have been desirable if there was a mural or a signboard giving a
crisp chronology of the various steps and important phases to enlighten the
tourists as to how this estate was developed with the passage of time? Such a
signboard or a plaque should have been erected outside the shops or main
entrance or at the start of the circular “Bowling Garden”. A brief and one
glance list of events and dates would be more handy and beneficial.

After visiting this amazing site one undergoes a tinge of sad
feelings also. Undoubtedly, although the buildings, the gardens, the cities,
the citadels and countries created by human beings survive and last on earth,
yet their creators and the owners have to pass away. This irreversible
phenomenon and fact reminds us that humans are mortal and have to leave behind
whatever they possess and create with hard work or ingenuity or out of sheer
passion. In case of Mount Vernon, this priceless, abiding and larger than life
legacy of iconic father of the American nation, George Washington would last
interminably and keep inspiring and giving hope to the successive generations
like a beacon or the morning star.

About Me

Columnist/Analyst/ Former Diplomat.
After obtaining my master’s degrees in Urdu and English literature from Punjab University, I started my career by teaching in a college. Thereafter, I had a stint in the diplomatic service of Pakistan. Finally I landed in journalism, an occupation that I am wedded to for over 20 years now.
I am a strong believer in a civil society and staunch opponent of exploitation in all forms.